The Agenda - Faculty and Staff Newsletter

Category: Articles

  • Virtual Posters from State of the Libraries 2026

    Minimal video media player Interface on blue background

    The annual State of the Libraries was held as a virtual event on July 29, 2026. Eleven virtual posters provided a glimpse into the diverse work of Rutgers University Libraries faculty, staff, and student employees. Below are descriptions and links to these posters, which are housed on the Rutgers University Libraries Staff Resources Site.

    A Guide to Generative AI Features in Major Databases & Platforms – Many e-resources providers are adding generative AI features to their platforms, and the Rutgers University Libraries electronic resources unit needed a simple way to share practical information about them with Rutgers University Libraries personnel and patrons. To accomplish this, we created the Generative AI Features in Major Databases & Platforms LibGuide, which provides information about generative AI features that are currently available in Rutgers’ major databases and electronic resources platforms of broad interest to students, staff, and faculty. This presentation will cover the guide’s purpose, scope, and design, as well as the process for adding new generative AI features to the guide and announcing them to the Rutgers University Libraries Community. Presented by Elizabeth York (Collections and Digital Strategies).

    Automating Multimedia Captioning with Whisper AI and High-Performance Computing – As multimedia assets in library collections grow, providing accurate, timely closed captioning remains a significant accessibility and workflow challenge. This poster presents a scalable solution developed at Rutgers University Libraries that utilizes Whisper, an open-source speech recognition model, deployed on the Amarel high-performance computing cluster. By automating the generation of WebVTT caption files for diverse audio and video assets, this project significantly reduces manual transcription time, ensures compliance with accessibility standards, and enhances the discoverability of institutional media collections. Presented by Chad Mills (Libraries Applications and Development).

    Building Belonging Through Onboarding: A “One Libraries” Approach to Welcoming New Employees at Rutgers University Libraries – This poster provides an overview of the development of the Onboarding Task Force, including its formation, objectives, and current progress in the implementation process. Presented by Kalaivani Ananthan, Mary Beth Weber, Amanda Clay Powers, Ann Marie Latini, Francesca Giannetti, Hadiyah Sellers, Jennifer Reiber, Naomi Gold, Priyanka Naik, Richard Jutkiewicz, Soo Lee, and Victoria Wagner.

    Overdue Since 1776: Curating America’s 250th Birthday With the Rutgers–Camden History Department – During the spring semester of 2026, Paul Robeson Library partnered with Professor Carly Goodman’s undergraduate History 304 class on an exhibit celebrating America’s birthdays. Members of the class each selected an item to showcase the variety of ways Americans marked these milestones. Together, they reveal two dimensions of our shared identity: on the one hand, spectacle and consumerism, and on the other, the unfinished work of the Revolution. Presented by John Powell (Paul Robeson Library).

    Evaluating AI-Generated Subject Terms for Cataloging Assistance – Brief MARC records lacking subject headings limit discovery. This study evaluates whether generative AI can assign accurate FAST subject terms using only call numbers, titles, and authors. Presented by Li Sun (Cataloging and Metadata Services).

    Evidence Synthesis Service Models and Current Practices among Academic Health Sciences Libraries in the United States – Academic health sciences libraries (AHSLs) have been providing systematic reviews (SRs) and other evidence synthesis (ES) services for many years. However, there are no established guidelines or standards for providing such services, let alone for integrating the artificial intelligence (AI) tools into the workflows of supporting evidence synthesis projects. A project was conducted to examine how academic health sciences libraries in the United States provide SR-ES services. This poster presents the findings from this examination. Presented by Yingting Zhang (Robert Wood Johnson Library of the Health Sciences).

    Media without Limits – We are a team of student Accessibility Quality Assistants dedicated to making audio-visual content more accessible to diverse audiences by creating and refining accurate, high-quality closed captions for select videos provided by Rutgers University Libraries. Our process complies with closed-captioning guidelines that follow federal accessibility standards and aligns with industry practices used by major streaming platforms. We subsequently meet on a weekly basis to review, interpret, and modify guidelines with respect to contexts specific to each film or video. Our presentation gives an overview of our work and how we proceed with fulfilling the Libraries’ commitment to accessibility. Presented by Sanchita Dighe, Franzen Quicho, Snehal Sinha, and Cynthia Sitarz.

    Shipping Centralization: Delivering Success – An overview of the preparation, steps taken, and current progress of centralizing Shipping for the libraries. Presented by Luke Sangiamo (Logistics, Shipping, and Handling).

    Stronger Together: One RUL IT – A centralized IT model provides streamlined support, improved service delivery, and a more consistent experience across the organization. It strengthens communication, increases transparency, improves efficiency, promotes staff development, and enhances team coverage and backup support. By working as one team, we can deliver more reliable service and better support for you, our customers. Help us serve you better by submitting all technology requests through the IT ticketing system. Every ticket helps us prioritize requests, route them to the appropriate team member, distribute workloads effectively, track issues from start to finish, and ensure that no request falls through the cracks. Stronger Together: One RUL IT. Submit a ticket and let us help you! Presented by Abigail DiPaolo, Kalaivani Ananthan, and John Gibson (Administration and Technology).

    The Journey Towards Accessibility Compliance – Rutgers University Libraries have been working to comply with Title II ADA requirements for providing accessible digital content for users with disabilities. The Libraries Applications and Development team has taken the lead in the auditing, reporting, training and technical remediation of the Libraries’ interfaces and content. In this presentation, we’ll give an overview of the past year’s work and look ahead to areas of future focus. Presented by Antonio Barrera (Libraries Applications and Development).

    The State of Digital Strategies – The Digital Strategies department was formed within Collections and Digital Strategies as part of the 2025 reorganization of Rutgers University Libraries. This poster shares some of the developments, events, and accomplishments from the department’s first year. Presented by Isaiah Beard, Paige Morgan, and Caryn Radick (Collections and Digital Strategies).

  • Letter to the Libraries

    It has already been a full year since we set our reorganization in motion! In August 2025, we implemented a new organizational structure that replaced the historical divisional silos and aligned our staffing with functional priorities.  

    For a full year, we have had instruction and reference services that are coordinated across Rutgers; a universitywide research services team; and centralized digital services, information technology services, and shipping and receiving; and we have invested in professional enrichment opportunities for all faculty and staff. Through these coordinated efforts, we’ve realized a higher level of service, numerous work efficiencies, and cost savings. We’re also closer than ever to achieving our One Libraries vision. It’s worth taking a moment to reflect on and celebrate how far we’ve come. 

    As we all gear up for the busy fall semester, I want to thank you for all you are doing to welcome incoming and returning students, support teaching and learning, advance research and innovation, and engage our communities. 

    Please know that you have my appreciation (always) and enjoy the remaining weeks of summer! 

  • Solve the Rutgers University Libraries Crossword

    crossword puzzle and pencil

    I started solving crossword puzzles in high school, and to this day, doing a crossword (or two) is my favorite way to spend a relaxing night. About three years ago, I was looking for a new challenge and I decided to try constructing my own puzzles. I built my first crossword in November 2023, and I’ve created 10 additional puzzles since then. All of my puzzles are themed; I’ve constructed some that were influenced by my favorite TV shows (like Friends), one that was inspired by Women’s History Month, and quite a few that are just classic wordplay puzzles.

    I recently completed a puzzle that’s Rutgers University Libraries themed, and I wanted to share it with all of you. For my fellow crossword enthusiasts, I don’t anticipate it will be too difficult (I would say it’s at a Monday or Tuesday level), but it will require you to remember the names of eight different libraries across our three campuses!

    Good luck!

  • Seen and Heard

    A July 6 Rutgers Today story featured summer reading recommendations from five of our librarians: Melissa De Fino, cataloging and metadata librarian, Collections and Digital Strategies; Naomi Gold, reference and instruction librarian, Dana Library; Tony Nguyen, associate university librarian, Rutgers Health Libraries; John Powell, reference and instruction librarian, Paul Robeson Library; and Lily Todorinova, undergraduate experience librarian/open educational research, Douglass Library. The story’s “If you like this, try that” format offers alternate books to consider if you can’t get your hands on the latest bestsellers.

    Melissa De Fino and Mary Beth Weber, coordinator for training and mentorship, received a rare gold star review from Library Journal for their book, Library Technical Services: Future Forward (Bloomsbury, November 2025). “This valuable work provides a window into the magic and dedication behind the scenes that are necessary to make library resources available to users,” wrote reviewer James Rhoades.

    Maria Deptula, health sciences collections librarian at Smith Library, and Mina Ghajar, education and research librarian at Smith Library, represented Rutgers Health at the 14th International Congress on Medical Librarianship (ICML) 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 14–16. They presented “Evidence-Based Practice in Action: Evaluating Open Access and Transformative Agreements to Inform Library Strategy at Rutgers Health,” highlighting their research on open access publishing and transformative agreements and engaging with health information professionals from around the world.

    Becky Libourel Diamond, Business Instruction Librarian at Carr Library, was featured in an article in Bucks County Magazine. The article highlighted her books on culinary history with a special focus on her new book that comes out this month, City Tavern: The Founding Table―Colonial Dining, Revolutionary History, and the Restaurant at the Center of it All (Westholme Publishing, August 2026).

    City Tavern: The Founding Table is Diamond’s fifth book and her third with Westholme Publishing. The book takes readers inside the City Tavern, the Philadelphia hotspot where the men crafting the country’s future met for dining, drinking and discourse. When the Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia, City Tavern was designated as a neutral spot for delegates to make connections, solicit opinions, and offer off-the-record thoughts and solutions―all over a pint of ale or glass of Madeira. This important role continued throughout the Revolution and beyond. Many of the founding fathers dined there, and George Washington even used it briefly as his headquarters. City Tavern: The Founding Table views this crucial time in America’s history through the tavern’s lens, and the book’s publication aligns with America’s 250th anniversary year. Judit Hajnal Ward, science reference and instruction librarian at Chang Library, interviewed Diamond about the book for a recent Books We Read post.

    Richard Jutkiewicz, head of access services at Smith Library, was invited to present at Yeshiva University on June 17. The presentation, part of a mini-symposium titled The 21st Century Academic Library, was on “Connecting Through Craft: Library Outreach and Marketing with Crochet and Knitting Programs.” This outreach presentation highlighted a program that library technician Ermira Mitre had developed for medical students interested in crafting. The program and presentation provided an example of how academic libraries can connect with students and create partnerships with student organizations.

    Ann Marie Latini, head of access services at Robeson Library, recently co-authored an article published in the Journal of Diversity & Inclusion Research titled, “Breaking Barriers in Nursing Education: A Scoping Review on the Experiences of Nursing Students with Disabilities Using Arksey and O’Malley’s Framework.” The article examines the experiences of nursing students with disabilities and highlights barriers and opportunities for creating more inclusive nursing education environments.

    Latini and Jutkiewicz presented at the New Jersey Academic Libraries (NJAL) Summer Workshop, hosted by the NJAL Access Services group at Drew University in Madison. Their presentation was titled “Building Belonging Through Onboarding: A ‘One Libraries’ Approach to Welcoming New Employees at Rutgers University Libraries.” The presentation highlighted the research, planning, early development stages, and future directions of a collaborative, system-wide onboarding program designed to connect new hires with colleagues, resources, and the broader library community. Inspired by work completed through the ARL Strategies Institute, the initiative emphasizes engagement, mentorship, shared learning, and cross-campus collaboration.

    Christie Lutz, New Jersey regional studies librarian and head of public services in Special Collections and University Archives, gave a presentation, “This is Larkin Barkin’: New Jersey’s Own Country and Western DJ Don Larkin” at the 42nd Annual International Country Music Conference, held in May at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

    Lutz was interviewed for and quoted in the recent American Archivist article “All the Freaks We’ve Saved: The Louisville Underground Music Archive in Retrospect and Comparison.” As part of their study, the authors sought to take the pulse of punk archives similar to their own now that time has passed since these archives were founded. Lutz provided information on the New Brunswick Music Scene Archive, housed in Special Collections and University Archives. The authors also cited Lutz’s 2022 American Archivist article, “Making a Scene: A Scenes Approach to a Local Music Archives,” as well as Adriana Cuervo’s review essay of three books on DIY music archiving in The American Archivist 81, no. 2 (2018). This article is a follow-up to the authors’ 2016 seminal American Archivist article, “Saving All the Freaks on the Life Raft: Blending Documentation Strategy with Community Engagement to Build a Local Music Archives.”

    Fernanda Perrone, archivist and head of the exhibitions program for Special Collections and University Archives, and co-editor Haruko Wakabayashi, an associate teaching professor in the School of Arts and Sciences, appeared at a launch and signing event for their recent book on August 1. During the event, held at the American Buddhist Study Center in New York, they discussed Rutgers Meets Japan: A Trans-Pacific Network of the Late Nineteenth Century (January 2026, Rutgers University Press).

    Christopher Sterback, system administrator for Information Technology Services, presented in a HathiTrust sponsored webinar on the experience of a library partner working on the Google Books project. Because the May 19 webinar was presented to five universities that are currently onboarding, Sterback focused on the experience of working on the project from the member perspective. The webinar was titled “Ingest Orientation Session for New Google Scanning Partners” and, in addition to Sterback, included presenters from the HathiTrust and the California Digital Library, which manages the bibliographic metadata for HathiTrust contributors.

    Elizabeth Surles, archivist, Institute of Jazz Studies, Dana Library, presented her paper “Measuring What Matters: A Diversity Audit Tool for Archives” at the Society of American Archivists Research Forum on July 15.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Introducing the LibKey Nomad Browser Extension

    Google home screen showing on a laptop. A green icon shaped like a teardrop sits in the top left corner of the photo.

    When you find an article or ebook citation on the web, would you like to link straight to the full text available from Rutgers University Libraries? You can do this with the free LibKey Nomad browser extension! LibKey Nomad connects you to many of the Libraries’ scholarly articles and ebooks, even when you begin your research outside the Libraries website.  

    It is easy to get started with LibKey Nomad: 

    1. Visit the LibKey Nomad download page and select your browser. 
    2. Follow the prompts to download and install the extension. 
    3. Select Rutgers University as your organization.  

    LibKey Nomad is compatible with hundreds of publisher and scholarly websites, search tools, and generative AI tools, including (but not limited to): 

    • PubMed 
    • Google Scholar 
    • Wikipedia 
    • Scopus 
    • Web of Science 
    • Covidence 
    • ChatGPT 
    • Claude 
    • Gemini 
    • Copilot  

    Once you have installed LibKey Nomad, you will automatically see LibKey Nomad links next to citations when you use supported websites and tools. These links will connect you to Rutgers University Libraries and open access sources. LibKey Nomad is available for all major web browsers, including: 

    • Chrome
    • Edge
    • Firefox
    • Safari
    • Brave
    • Vivaldi

    You might wonder, how does LibKey Nomad build connections between citations and the Libraries’ resources? For articles, LibKey Nomad uses DOIs and PMIDs. For ebooks, LibKey Nomad uses ISBNs. A citation must contain one of these identifiers for LibKey Nomad to be able to connect to full text. Because LibKey Nomad uses these modern identifiers for linking, it is best suited to research projects involving scholarship from the past few decades. It is also important to note that LibKey Nomad cannot connect to electronic resources in other formats (such as streaming videos and images), nor can it provide information about the Libraries’ physical resources. To view the greatest breadth of library resources available to you, we recommend using QuickSearch and Rutgers University Libraries Databases relevant to your area of research.

    With these qualifications in mind, you can see that LibKey Nomad is an exciting ancillary tool that can boost your usage of the Libraries’ resources while browsing the web, easily connect you to paywalled resources, and encourage you to fact-check the citations you find. You may wish to consider how LibKey Nomad could complement your research process and the research processes of the patrons you serve.

    To learn more about using LibKey Nomad, please visit the Libraries’ LibKey Nomad page and Third Iron Support.

  • Seen and Heard

    A drawing by Megan Lotts, art librarian, is featured on the cover of College & Research Libraries News. Her sketch captures the energy of the 2025 American Library Association Annual Conference in Philadelphia, where conversations around intellectual freedom and digital equity took center stage. (The 2026 ALA Annual Conference will be held June 25–29 in Chicago.)

    Bart Everts, reference and instruction librarian at Robeson Library, was quoted in The Gleaner (Rutgers University–Camden’s student newspaper) about the value of the annual Rutgers–Camden Graduate Student Organization hike in Wissahickon Valley Park. “There are countless studies simply on the mental health value of walking, but I think getting out into nature, away from cars and other stressors, not just the stresses of school but of 21st-century life, is vital to our well-being, at least it certainly is to mine,” Everts said. He added that the library’s stressbuster initiatives, including therapy dogs and the Zen Den, complement GSO’s efforts. “Alwin and the GSO have done such a great job with events like this hike, not simply as a way to get away from schoolwork, but also to bond a group of students who come from such a diversity of backgrounds, countries, cultures, and experiences.”

  • Faculty and Staff News

    Corisa Mobley-Victory, Principal Management Assistant at Smith Library, is a certified Mental Health First Aider for Youth and Adults from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Through this certification program, she is trained to recognize and provide initial support to individuals experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. While this certification does not qualify individuals to diagnose conditions, it equips participants with practical tools, compassionate response techniques, and knowledge of available resources to help connect individuals with professional support when appropriate. The program also provides continuing education credits, and certification remains valid for three years.

     

    Service Recognition 

    Multiple faculty and staff members from Rutgers University Libraries were recognized by the university at receptions held in May (faculty) and June (staff) for their years of service to Rutgers. The honorees are:

    50 YEARS

    • Natalie Borisovets, humanities and social sciences librarian/Newark bibliographer, Dana Library

    30 YEARS

    • Charlene Houser, business manager III and supervisor, Administration and Technology
    • Mei Ling Lo, science research librarian, Library of Science and Medicine
    • Andres Martinez, library supervisor I, Access Services, Douglass Library
    • Fernanda Perrone, archivist and head of the exhibitions program, Special Collections and University Archives
    • Lucille Vidal, library supervisor I and head of serials acquisitions, Administration and Technology

    20 YEARS

    • Ashwin Bijur, system administrator, Administration and Technology
    • Qun Luo, library associate I, Interlibrary Loans, Collections and Digital Strategies
    • Alfreda Richardson, library assistant II, Access Services, Library of Science and Medicine
    • Christopher Singh, unit computing specialist, Administration and Technology
    • Li Sun, continuing resources and Asian languages catalog librarian, Collections and Digital Strategies
    • William Torres, library assistant II, Access Services, Alexander Library

    10 YEARS

    • Yeewah Chan, web developer, Administration and Technology
    • Bart Everts, reference/instruction librarian for the Camden campuses of Rowan University and Camden County College, Robeson Library

     

    Recent and Upcoming Birthdays

    Join us in acknowledging the faculty and staff members with birthdays during June, July, and August.

    June

    Matthew Bridgeman
    Jodi Costeira
    Abigail DiPaolo
    Anna Huang
    Michele Petosa
    Karen Rock-Agard
    Yingting Zhang

    July

    Isaiah Beard
    Gargi Chatterjee
    Adriana Cuervo
    Erika Gorder
    Alexandria Londres Grayson
    Alicia Haggenmiller
    Pamela Hargwood
    Tara Kelley
    Elizabeth Kim
    Albert Lee
    Irina Loutchkina
    Mary O’Mara
    John Powell
    Edward Robinson
    Quionne Scott
    Edward Suarez
    Li Sun
    Michele Tokar
    Jonathan Torres
    Paul Young

    August

    Natalie Borisovets
    Jennifer Dickerson
    Jie Geng
    John Gibson
    Naomi Gold
    Krista Haviland
    Angela Lawrence
    Shirley Lewis
    Mohammad Mansouri
    Orla Mejia
    Grace McGarty
    James Silverstein
    Jeffrey Teichmann
    Zara Wilkinson
    Latisha Williams

  • New Milestones for Robeson Undergraduate Research Award

    A group of people poses, smiling, with five people in the middle holding certificates.
    Left to right: Zara Wilkinson, Samantha Kannegiser, Tiffany Chan, Renuka Kumar, John Powell, Thaha Alam, Niayla Silvera, Emma Bogdan, Tom Risch, Regina Koury

     

    Paul Robeson Library celebrated the sixth annual Undergraduate Research Award on April 16 as part of the official campus SPARK! week (Showcase of Projects, Art, Research, and Knowledge). Five undergraduates were awarded cash prizes ranging from $250 to $1,000 for their exemplary research projects making use of a range of library resources, collections, and services. Friends, family, and the Rutgers University–Camden community were invited to the award ceremony to hear the winners discuss their research.

    There were many firsts celebrated in this award cycle. This was the first time that:

    • All awardees are women.
    • There was a tie for first place.
    • One first-place winner is a junior.
    • A poster project won an award.
    • The New Researcher (first-year undergraduate) awardee scored as highly as some of the upper-level student awardees.

    This was also the second award cycle in which one of our previous awardees won for a second time. Emma Bogdan, 2026 runner-up, also won an honorable mention as a first-year student in 2023.

    Each year, Samantha Kannegiser, student success librarian, and Zara Wilkinson, reference and instruction librarian, facilitate the yearlong Undergraduate Research Award cycle. This year’s evaluation committee included Oscar Holmes IV, professor and director of the Rutgers University Student Executive Program and a professor and researcher in human resources/organizational behavior, School of Business–Camden; Jennifer Oberle, associate teaching professor, Department of Biology; and John Powell, reference and instruction librarian, Robeson Library.

    All winning projects will be added to the Paul Robeson Library Undergraduate Research Award digital collection.

  • Special Collections and Digital History Class Collaboration in Camden

    Image on left shows a person photographing a rolled up red blanket with a Rutgers Camden logo printed on it. Image on the right shows a room full of people seated at tables, working.
    Digital history students worked in groups to digitize and create web content featuring items from Special Collections at Robeson Library.

     

    Special Collections and Digital History Class Collaboration in Camden

    Over the Spring Semester, Special Collections at Robeson Library hosted Jesse Bayker’s digital history class as part of their class project commemorating Rutgers University–Camden’s centennial. Robeson librarian Bart Everts met with Bayker during the fall semester to plan how students might interpret the history of Rutgers–Camden and the region through items in the collection. When the class began in January, Everts provided an orientation including a history of the campus, best practices for handling archival items, and access and publication guidelines and restrictions.

    The students worked in groups, consulting with Everts to find items that best fit their area of focus, including Queer history, athletics, Black and Latinx activism, the Bancroft School, and campus publications. They then worked to digitize the items, create metadata, describe and interpret their selections, and ultimately host them on the course website with a finding aid. The class presented their project to history and library faculty at the end of the semester. Feedback from both students and faculty bodes well for further collaboration between Special Collections at Robeson Library and the Department of History. You can view the students’ work on the Digital Camden Archive.

  • Engagement Day 2026 Builds Connectedness

    Collage of two images. A person poses behind a 2-dimensional sculpture of a dress, and a group of people gathers around a different sculpture.
    Team-building activities included a sculpture and landmarks walk on Livingston campus.

     

    Engagement Day 2026 was held on Friday, May 22 at Livingston Student Center. About 90 Rutgers University Libraries faculty and staff gathered for a day of professional development and team building.

    The theme was Building Bridges: Creating a Connected Workplace. Connie Cinko, a human resources professional with a focus on learning and development, led the morning session. Framing the discussion with The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, Cinko led attendees through a series of interactive exercises to examine the core behaviors for a work environment that supports connectedness. Topics explored include trust, unconscious bias, respect, and communication skills.

    In the afternoon, employees chose from a variety of team-building activities. Tai Chi lessons on the patio were led by John Gaddy of John Gaddy’s Karate and Boxing Studio in High Bridge. Meditation sessions in the Gathering Place were led by Reka Somodi, senior director, promotion of well-being, from the Rutgers Health Office of Clinical and Health Affairs. Art librarian Megan Lotts led button making, events and program manager Elena Schneider led stone painting, and additional options included a self-guided sculpture and landmarks walk on campus, in addition to cards, board games, bocce, and giant Jenga.

    “Engagement Day is an important event for us as an organization,” said Consuella Askew, vice president for university libraries and university librarian, in her opening remarks. “It gives us the opportunity to come together across campuses, roles, and units—to reconnect, to reflect, and to strengthen the relationships that make our work possible and our organization successful.”