UH Libraries News

Sarah Jones is the new Head of Preservation and Reformatting at UH Libraries.

University of Houston Libraries is delighted to welcome Sarah Jones, our new Head of Preservation and Reformatting.

Please describe your role. How does your work align with the student success and research productivity focus of the University? 

As Head of the Preservation and Reformatting Department (PARD) for the University of Houston Libraries, I oversee the unit responsible for preserving the libraries’ collections and ensuring materials are available many years into the future. Our department performs a variety of tasks, including reformatting audiovisual materials (VHS, film, audiocassettes, etc.) into digital files; digitizing fragile or historically valuable materials such as documents, photographs, newspapers, and scrapbooks; and even confirming that newly created born-digital materials are kept in stable and accessible formats. Our work also includes monitoring the storage environments where those materials are kept. Regular tasks include checking that spaces maintain proper temperature and humidity levels, and that the containers themselves are made of material that will not degrade or further damage the materials over time.  

Preservation and digitization/reformatting work increases access to our materials for students and researchers by making them available remotely, and at the same time reduces the handling of the fragile item. The original item remains relatively stable, but the information it contains can be shared widely. PARD’s responsibilities ensure that students and researchers can access all the materials held within the library, regardless of its format, both now and well into the future. 

Please share a bit about your background and professional interests. How do these inspire and shape your approach to preservation? 

My undergraduate degree is in the history of science and medicine, where I first was introduced to – and fell in love with — rare books and archives. Since graduating with my MLIS, I worked in academic libraries in a variety of roles that allowed me to develop expertise across a few areas: digitization, archival processing and preservation, and reference services. All those experiences combined gave me an understanding of how central preservation is to all aspects of librarianship. Working in different areas has also given me a deep appreciation of the specialized work that our library faculty and staff do every day. It is so exciting to work with colleagues on collaborative projects and test out new, innovative ideas! Each person brings different expertise and ideas to our shared goal of connecting students and researchers with the resources they need. 

What are one or two things you’d like scholars and students to know about the function/purpose of preservation and reformatting? 

Preservation and reformatting balance two essential goals: protecting original materials and ensuring continued access to information for research, teaching, and learning. While my department obviously focuses on the material in the library, the same basic principles apply to your personal collection or family history. Unfortunately, most people don’t think about preservation until it is too late: the basement flooded, bugs got into clothes stored in the garage, or the cat knocked a glass of water onto your laptop before you could back up your files.  Taking some small but critical steps now means your most treasured materials will last well into the future. Store your valued materials in a (relatively) dry and cool place, ideally in an enclosed container or tote, to keep pests, dirt, and water out. Keep copies of any important digital files on a couple different storage devices.  If one gets destroyed, you have a backup. Preservation can be incredibly detailed and complicated, but it can also be adapted to your ability and need. Taking a few precautions now makes all the difference in 20, 30, or 100 years. 

University of Houston Libraries is pleased to announce the 2026 recipient cohort of the UH Open Education Incentive (OPEN) Program. 

The OPEN Program supports instructors in adopting open educational resources (OER) and open educational practices in their courses. The program’s flexibility provides a variety of options for faculty to remove costs associated with commercial textbooks, employ innovative and creative teaching methods in their courses, and share openly licensed learning materials that other instructors may reuse and adapt for their own courses. By promoting affordability of course materials and introducing experiential learning opportunities to enrich student learning, the program supports the university’s strategic goal of providing a top-tier and inclusive educational experience to all UH students.  

Instructors awarded the Textbook Affordability Incentive will adopt, adapt, or create OER, or use a combination of freely available or library-licensed resources, to replace required commercial textbook(s) in a course.  

Instructors awarded the Open Educational Practices Incentive will create and share an OER learning object (including assignments, quizzes, lecture slides, lesson plans, videos, or other teaching resources), which benefits both students and other educators who can reuse and repurpose it. This incentive also supports instructors in replacing a traditional assignment with a renewable assignment, implementing what is commonly called open pedagogy, or engaging students in co-creating course content that can be openly licensed and shared. 

2026 OPEN Program winners are: 

Textbook Affordability: 

• Brandon Duke – LAW 5382: Administrative Law – UH Law Center 

• Polina Kharmats – POLS 3311: Introduction to Comparative Politics – College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

• Julio Cesar Lopez Otero – SPAN 2307: Spanish for Heritage Learners I – College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences 

• Jovita Nsoh – CIS 6358: Secure Software Design – Cullen College of Engineering 

Estimated textbook costs removed for students in the first year of implementing no-cost materials in these courses is $70,000, benefiting an estimated 400 students. Awards were granted based on the number of students impacted, cost of the textbook being replaced, the type of project and type of resources being adopted, and the feasibility of successful implementation. 

Open Educational Practices: 

• Carrie S. Cutler – CUIN 6341: Teaching Problem Solving in Mathematics – College of Education 

• Kathrine Ginapp, Liliana Soto (Graduate Student), & Daniel Casanova – GHL 3420 & GHL 3197: Foodservice Operations & Introduction to Baking and Pastry – Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership 

• Elena Farah – INTB 3355: Global Environment of Business – C.T. Bauer College of Business 

• Khirul Basar Mim – GRET 6336: Global Retail Analysis of World Regions – Cullen College of Engineering 

These Open Educational Practices proposals will impact approximately 350 students. Awards were granted based on project goals, feasibility of successful implementation, and anticipated enhancement to student learning.  

“We are proud to continue growing the impact of the Open Education Incentive Program by expanding access to high-quality, no-cost learning materials,” said Ariana Santiago, associate dean for research and student engagement. “Through their commitment to student success, instructors are reducing barriers, fostering greater engagement, and creating meaningful learning experiences that empower students to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.” 

Learn more about open educational resources at UH. 

Special thanks to the members of the 2026 OPEN Program Review Committee: Kate McNally Carter, Wenli Gao, Dr. Marédil León Cedeño, Dr. Nathan Shepley, and Imani Spence. 

This summer, the UH Architecture, Design & Art Library hosted the Architecture & Design Week of the UH Arts District Summer Camp for children ages 6-12. Through this program, campers experienced some of UH’s most vibrant artistic and design programs, including a tour of the Jenkins Library and the opportunity to design their own residential buildings. There were three workstations: in the first, campers used the library’s extensive resources to research residential building designs; second, they used the library’s design tools to create their own basic house plans; and third, they decorated their plans using a variety of arts and craft supplies. Eventually, they created their own models under the guidance of camp leaders in the Elgin Street Studios. This was a wonderful opportunity for young minds to learn both practical and creative skills. Scroll through the gallery to see photos from this fun and educational week!

Shasta, UH Libraries’ new AI-powered chatbot, is now live on the UH Libraries homepage.

Designed to help students, faculty, and staff quickly find answers to common questions, Shasta is grounded primarily in UH Libraries’ website content and can also draw on information from across UH campus resources when needed. Whether you’re looking for library hours, borrowing information, research support, or other campus-related resources, Shasta can help you find answers without the extra searching.

Click on the image above and give Shasta a try!

University of Houston Libraries celebrated its past and present employees at the MD Anderson Library 75th Anniversary Employee Celebration on Friday, June 12, 2026. The event, held at the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion, was a fun and festive summer reunion, with carnival games, UH-themed raffle giveaways, door prizes, light bites, and plenty of wonderful memories. Many thanks go to the members of the Libraries Employee Engagement Committee, and Jessica Rodriguez and Larry Schmidt, for producing the lovely event.

The event was the second in a series of celebrations commemorating 75 years of the MD Anderson Library. The first, “Cheers to 75 Years,” was held in April for students, faculty, and staff. The third and culminating celebration will be held on Saturday, August 29–registration is now open.

Past and present UH Libraries employees at the MD Anderson Library 75th Anniversary celebration

View photos from the MD Anderson Library 75th Anniversary Employee Celebration.

University of Houston Libraries celebrated its outstanding employees at the 2026 Library Excellence Awards recently. Now in its 26^th year, the event, held at the MD Anderson Library Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion, recognizes the commitment and talent of UH librarians and staff. The annual tradition is supported through the generosity of the John P. McGovern Foundation.

This year’s event theme was “Greatest of All Time,” inspired by the distinctions of UH Athletics, the recent Olympic Winter Games, and the upcoming World Cup. Dean of UH Libraries Christina Gola opened the festivities with gratitude for the many individuals who helped produce the awards event, including all nominators, members of the awards committee, members of the employee engagement committee, and staff. Libraries student employees who won scholarships for the upcoming academic year were also honored.

The Dean’s Advocate Award went to Heidi Appel, dean of the Honors College, who has been an extraordinary collaborator and advocate for UH Libraries over the past two years. Dean Appel deeply understands the essential role libraries serve in student success and has been a true partner in advancing that mission.

Dean Heidi Appel and Dean Christina Gola

Brooke Bailey is the McGovern Staff Rookie of the Year. Bailey is described as “an absolute marvel” whose expertise has had a positive impact on several processes at the Jenkins Architecture, Design, and Art Library. Under her direction, social media engagement has doubled, and with her promotion of materials, circulation has increased by more than 20%.

The McGovern Librarian Rookie of the Year is Louise Kidder, who is described as a “reliable, collaborative, and inclusive colleague.” Just six months after joining the Libraries, she stepped into an interim department head role, helping her team maintain “positive, steady morale during a time of significant change.” She successfully led several complex projects, improving workflows, strengthening partnerships, and enhancing the Libraries’ ability to support student success and research.

The Student Achievement awards were presented to Riya Dhanduke and Christina Miller. Dhanduke is a “highly collaborative and dependable employee” in Resource Management and Metadata whose assistance in the Pressbooks to MARC Pilot project was invaluable. Miller is recognized for her “reliability, cheerful personality, playful creativity, and excellent work ethic” at the Jenkins Library.

This year’s McGovern Outstanding Student is Kira Giannetti, who is known to be a collaborative, professional, autonomous, and diligent sound engineer for the Hamill Studio. Giannetti conveys care, good judgment, and a high degree of technical expertise that is appreciated by her many studio clients.

Jamie Duke and Susan Houston received Staff Achievement awards. Duke is an exceptional team member and “natural problem-solver” who shows grace and skill in her position, making sure that Libraries resources are used wisely and that recruiting and onboarding go smoothly. Houston juggles countless daunting tasks related to building management, and her “practical expertise and deep institutional knowledge” never fail to impress. 

Winners of the 2026 Library Excellence Awards

The McGovern Outstanding Staff awardee, Austin Stakes, is recognized for the essential behind-the-scenes contributions that help make the work of UH Libraries possible. Described as a “meticulous and exacting” digital photo technician, he is known for the attention to detail and technical expertise that strengthen every project he supports. 

Veronica Arellano Douglas and Kate Carter were honored for Librarian Achievement. Douglas has built an exemplary record of scholarship, service, and leadership while advancing UH Libraries’ mission both on campus and within the profession. She led the development of Teaching and Learning’s Reflection Toolkit, serves on the editorial board of the journal portal: Libraries and the Academy, and is a facilitator for ACRL Immersion.

Carter advances the Libraries’ mission through her work in open educational resources. She has taken on important leadership roles in the profession, and contributes to the field through scholarship, including a recent book chapter exploring the work of OER librarians. As chair of the Libraries Research and Scholarship Travel Committee, she leads improvements to application processes and documentation to better support students and future committee work.

Jennifer Holland is the McGovern Outstanding Librarian. “Supportive and dedicated,” Holland made various valuable contributions in 2025, such as participating in the Texas Library Association 2026 planning committee and the National Forum on Privacy Literacy Standards and Competencies at Penn State. She also became a co-convener of the American Library Association’s privacy literacy discussion group, co-presented with a colleague on library resources and research strategies for the Houston Early Research Experience program, and serves as chair for the Library Excellence Awards committee.

This year’s Outstanding Group is the Subscription Accounts Management team, Susan Ryan and Jeannie Pham. Their “tenacity, attention to detail, and insistence on accuracy,” along with their ability to respond quickly to unexpected challenges, were critical to the project’s success. Working collaboratively with colleagues and vendor partners, they navigated numerous billing and subscription management challenges while building strong, high-trust relationships with new partners. Their teamwork and persistence ensured continuity of access to UH Libraries’ print and electronic collections and demonstrated excellent stewardship of these important resources.

The Trailblazer Award for Leading Organizational Change went to collaborators Keith Komos, Frederick Young, and Selina Khan, who navigated the complexities of a shared library system with exceptional creativity and persistence. The group brought together partners from UH Libraries, university IT, and faculty across the UH system to meet an ambitious implementation timeline. Their technical expertise, programmatic leadership, and commitment to collaboration helped establish new relationships and set a standard for effective cross-campus teamwork. 

Members of the Library Excellence Awards Committee are Jennifer Holland, Sarah Barber, Susan Hoover, Eric Larsen, Yesenia Umana, Duong Pham, and Marian Smith; and ex officio members Jamie Duke and Santi Thompson.

Members of the Employee Engagement Committee who contributed to the development of the theme and celebration are Armin Lopez, Susan Ryan, Ann Blosser, Molly Knapp, and Quoc Phung.

Jessica Rodriguez and Larry Schmidt provided logistics support for the space and committees. Kyle Boberg provided photography.

See more photos on Facebook

The University of Houston MD Anderson Library was occupied in 1950 and dedicated on April 1, 1951. 75 years later, we are commemorating the legacy of our Library, the heart of the University, and looking toward the future of a Reimagined Library. In 2026, we invite the UH community to join us in celebrating this significant moment in our University’s history.

Celebrating 75 Years of the MD Anderson Library

The original MD Anderson Library, modest in size, has since evolved through three major expansions—the 1968 Blue Wing, 1977 Brown Wing, and 2004 Gold Wing—into a 400,000-square-foot facility. Its evolution mirrors the University’s growth, becoming a modern, collaborative hub for scholarship and creativity.

Explore this page to learn more about MD Anderson Library through the decades, engage in signature anniversary events, share your Library story, and find out how you can help shape the future of the Reimagined Library.

A new exhibit at University of Houston Libraries features local primary sources curated from the LGBT History Research Collection.

“We the People: Exploring the American Experience through the UH Libraries LGBT History Research Collection” illuminates lived experiences represented by photos, handwritten letters, artwork, newspaper clippings, clothing, and ephemera. Presented with support from The Hollyfield Foundation, the exhibit offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience deeply individual yet publicly resonant perspectives from the 1940s to 2000s.

Artwork and a photo from the Pat Gustavson and Mignon Weisinger Papers

After thoughtful research and planning, archivist Joyce Gabiola selected rare, one-of-a-kind materials documenting extraordinary moments and milieus in Houston and LGBT history. 

“As a UH alum and professional archivist who grew up in Houston, it’s an honor and privilege to have developed the exhibit for the UH community and public,” Gabiola said. “It’s also personally meaningful. One of my favorite parts of the exhibit is the inclusion of recent UH graduates’ affective engagement with materials in the collection, which represent academic and creative possibilities of archival research.”

Some of the collections featured in the exhibit are the Botts Collection of LGBT History, Diana Foundation Records, Arden Eversmeyer Papers, Fundación Latinoamericana de Acción Social Records, Gulf Coast Archive and Museum of GLBT History, and PFLAG Houston Records.

Photo from the JD Doyle Archives; correspondence from the Arden Eversmeyer Papers

UH Libraries has one of the most significant LGBTQ research collections in the country, built through decades of scholarly collaboration with members of the local community,” said Christian Kelleher, director of exhibitions and external relations. “While the exhibit only has room for a small sampling of materials from the extensive collections, it captures a sense of the personal and public, the civic, social and cultural historical primary sources represented in the archives.”

Curatorial assistant Lysandra Cruz stated that materials from the C. Patrick McIlvain Papers were especially notable for her. “It was a physical showcase of the kinds of emotions a person could go through,” Cruz said. Connected to Special Collections for a capstone course, she was motivated despite limited prior experience with physical primary sources. “What brought me to do this archival work was my want to learn more and experience a part of history that I felt also belonged to me,” she said.

Any UH student scholar, or member of the public who may be interested in exploring research collections can start with a finding aid search and connect with UH librarians and archivists who oversee the collections. 

“We the People” is on view through December 2026 and is located at MD Anderson Library floor 1. For more information or to discuss possible instruction opportunities connected to the exhibit, contact Joyce Gabiola.

To support a safe and accessible environment for all Library visitors, bicycles and electric scooters are no longer permitted inside the MD Anderson Library, effective April 6, 2026. As stated in MAPP 09.04.02, bicycles and scooters are not allowed inside buildings; and reckless or negligent operation of all bicycles and scooters (motorized or otherwise) on any part of campus is prohibited.

This change is being implemented to:

• Reduce safety hazards in high‑traffic areas
• Prevent damage to Library facilities
• Ensure clear walkways and emergency access routes for all visitors

What this means for you:

Bicycles and electric scooters may not be brought, ridden, charged, or stored anywhere inside the Library. Students, staff, faculty, and visitors are encouraged to secure or park bicycles and scooters at designated outdoor racks before entering.

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our shared spaces safe, welcoming, and conducive to study and research. If you need accommodations related to mobility, please contact the Justin Dart, Jr. Student Accessibility Center. 

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and accessible environment for everyone.