Krystal Appiah

An individual seated at a desk in a well-appointed office with bookshelves, a large window, and a computer.

This morning we welcomed Leo S. Lo to the Library as the 16th University Librarian, as he begins his tenure as University Librarian and Dean of Libraries, Professor of Education, and Advisor to the Provost for AI Literacy.

Welcome to UVA and the Library, Dean Lo!

Local folks, Wed 9/17 5:30pm visit UVA Special Collections for the catered opening of a new exhibit of microexhibits. 48 of our library staff curated quick+deep dives into an "A-Z" of topics they care about in our collections, from Artist Books to Zines, Sea Monsters to Pandemic Books. Pls register:

Please spread the word—The Scholars’ Workshop in Early African American Print at AAS Jan. 12-15, 2026. A writing workshop and intro to archives for junior scholars working on the dissertation or first book. Fully funded. Apply by Oct. 15 2025. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD

A vertical graphic shows a photo of a man in glasses and a black t-shirt looking up to examine a small piece of parchment that he is holding raised between two fingers. A black horizontal band across the top of the image bears the RBS logo and, in white text, “$150K Matching Challenge,” while below this, in black and red text, it reads, “Double your impact today! Rarebookschool.org/donate"

Thanks to the RBS Board of Directors, all gifts made to the Annual Fund before September 30 will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $150,000.

The Annual Fund is essential to our work, funding scholarships and fellowships to support RBS students. You can help now. Visit rarebookschool.org/donate.

Know your rights if stopped by police in D.C. * Ask: “Am I free to leave?” and “Am I under arrest?” * If police stop you, they might ask if they can search you. You do not have to give the officers permission to conduct a frisk or a search, though in some circumstances they can do so anyway. Telling police that you do not consent to a search is a good way to protect your rights to the greatest extent possible. * You do not have to answer questions that police ask you, except to give your name and address if asked in some situations. * If you are arrested, you should tell the police that you are invoking your right to remain silent (say so explicitly) and that you want to speak with a lawyer. From there, you should not answer any other questions, except your name and address if asked. * If you are detained by ICE or Border Patrol, you have the right to hire a lawyer, but the government does not have to provide one for you. Ask for a list of free or low-cost alternatives. * It can be dangerous for people to argue about police misconduct in the street, especially for Black and Brown people. Keep yourself safe and file a complaint later.

Some useful advice fromt he the ACLU.

librarytechnology.org/pr/31511

A few folks have DM’d me abt the Frederick Douglass passage I excerpted at the rally. Here it is:

“Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation, are people who want crops without ploughing the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning; 1/

@dem8z.bsky.social Thanks for your speech. Both your words and the Douglass quote were energizing.

BREAKING: Justice Jackson cites the Colored Conventions Project Digital Archive her dissent in Medina v. Planned Parenthood. These public collective digital projects MATTER and they WILL be heard. 👏👏👏

@ccp-org.bsky.social
@profgabrielle.bsky.social
@jimccasey1.bsky.social

Staff

Woke up this morning unemployed from our federal government positions.

Might we make a small request? Please spend a few minutes today browsing the names & bios of #NEH staff, most of whom are now without jobs, before the agency erases us from its memory. #humanities

www.neh.gov/about/staff

Here's the FDA's public comment portal. There's still time to provide feedback on their plan to restrict those under 65 from receiving the COVID-19 booster. www.regulations.gov/commenton/FD...

A few tips for NEH grantees:
1) if you've spent money on an awarded grant but have not yet drawn down the funds, make sure to submit the paperwork to drawn down funds ASAP.

2) the NYTimes article suggests that "DOGE" might cancel awards. If you receive an email from DOGE cancelling your NEH award,

The University of Virginia has created a website of archived government websites—bookmark it—you’re going to need it later.

guides.lib.virginia.edu/c.php?g=1451...

LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund. For artists and art workers impacted by the Los Angeles fires. Visit cciarts.org to check eligibility and apply for an emergency grant through February 18, 2025 at 5pm PST.

ATTN: artists and art workers impacted by the Palisades or Eaton Fires in Los Angeles.

The LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund was organized by Getty and a coalition of arts supporters, and is at $14M and counting.

Apply at cciarts.org now for up to $10,000 of aid through February 18 at 5:00 pm PST

A painting of pilot Bessie Coleman. She is in front of a plane and wears a flying hat and googles, a white shirt and a brown jacket.

Born #OTD in 1892, Bessie Coleman was the first African American woman and Native American woman to earn a pilot’s license.

Denied entry to pilot programs in the U.S., Coleman moved to France and learned French to fulfill her dream. Watch the NEH-supported series UNLADYLIKE2020: ow.ly/WIBL50ULlzi

855 298 3271 immigration rapid response hotline Virginia network if ICE is at your door, don’t open! Call! If you see ICE on the street, stay away! Call us! In all cases, keep silent and don’t sign anything!

In case folks haven’t seen this, we have a rapid response hotline in Virginia for concerns about ICE activity

SHARE WIDELY.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.

With mass deportations starting today across the country, it is vitally important - for both citizens and non-citizens - to know your rights.

You have the right to remain silent. Assert it. You have the right to a lawyer. Ask for one.

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Born-Digital Collections, Archives and Memory Born-Digital Collections, Archives and Memory is a conference that seeks to further an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral discussion on how the born-digital transforms research.

❗ Exciting conference news ❗ Registration is OPEN for Born-Digital Collections, Archives and Memory, 2-4 April 2025, in-person and online @dh-researchhub.bsky.social

www.sas.ac.uk/about-us/ins...

I'm just happy to be here. Looking forward to re-building community in this space!

It’s academic interview season so I thought I’d share here what I share with my advisees about campus visits. First up—job talk, then teaching demo, meals. Pan out and pro tip—your job is leave with them thinking of you as an 🔥exciting new colleague who wants to be there.🔥

We’re excited to announce the Library of Congress as this year’s Douglass Day partner! Together, we’ll transcribe important documents of Black history. Discover more at www.loc.gov. Let’s make history ✊! #YouMakeHistory #DouglassDay2025 #BlackHistory #HistoryMatters

Mellon Foundation The Mellon Foundation makes grants to actively unlock the power in the arts and humanities that helps connect us all.

@mellonfoundation.bsky.social, via the Public Knowledge program, is launching another round of open calls for proposals from community-based archives, this time for general operating support funding. Read the solicitation here: www.mellon.org/article/call...

Applications now open for @atbw.bsky.social’s Web Archiving School. We’re recruiting fellows, instructors, and teaching assistants. Everyone is paid. Apply by January 31st, 2025. www.archivingtheblackweb.org/warc-school/

Remembering Danna Bell | Teaching with the Library It’s with great sadness that we report the passing of our longtime friend and colleague Danna Bell. Danna served the Library of Congress for more than 25 years and was a core member of our K-12 educat...

From the Library of Congress, remembering Danna Bell❤️

blogs.loc.gov/teachers/202...

Archiving the Black Web has opened up our applications for Web Archiving School. Apply to be a fellow, instructor, or teaching assistant. Apps due January 31st, 2025.

Flyer for Know Your Rights Workshop Sponsored by International Rescue Committee, Sin Barreras, Legal Aid Justice Center , ACLU-VA, and Cruz Law, PLLC For more information call 434-531-0104.

Flyer for Power of Attorney Workshop Sponsored by International Rescue Committee, Sin Barreras, Legal Aid Justice Center , ACLU-VA, and Cruz Law, PLLC Includes list of documents to bring For more information call 434-531-0104.

Tomorrow, December 14th from 1-3 pm
The International Rescue Committee in Charlottesville is holding workshops at the Islamic Society of Central Virginia, 708 Pine Street.

The Society of American Archivists is seeking volunteers for an Archival Labor Task Force. Interested in shaping a worker-centered future of the field? Info here:

www2.archivists.org/governance/h...

Come work with me! An informational webinar is scheduled for December 18, 2024 from NOON - 1:00 PM Eastern Time. #archivesjobs

Sure, the UCLA "ai" class is obviously foolish, but has anyone followed the money?

It's pushing a platform called Kudu, funded by a German expat in the Philippines who sells creepy language classes online using clips from the Apprentice, Baywatch & "SexyMandarin." You can't make this up.

The evolving public services landscape in special collections: Insights from an OCLC RLP leadership roundtable  - The evolving public services landscape in special collections: Insights from an OCLC RLP leadership roundtable Reflections from a leadership discussion of recent changes in archives and special collections public services programs, including pandemic-era changes in serving researchers that have significantly…

Smart blog post from my colleague Chela Weber on the evolving public services landscape in special collections. What is impacting special collections service environments, and where do we want to go next?

So much gratitude to our OCLC RLP participants that make these discussions possible!