RAMble, the University Libraries' blog

Business Librarian, Grace Liu, Featured in WCU Magazine

The Spring 2025 issue of the West Chester University Magazine features University Libraries Business Librarian, Grace Liu. The Faculty Profile highlights Grace’s commitment to student success at WCU through the impactful grants, programs, and groups she leads.

Read the full article.

We want to inform our valued patrons that the Presser Music Library will be temporarily closed June 2nd through June 29th due to essential renovations to the Swope Music Building’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning system.

The FHG Library is open during this renovation, please visit us there! Physical music scores and books will be retrieved by staff and available for pick-up at FHG library. To request materials, use Library Search and select FHG as the pick-up location. Our digital library, including eBooks, scores, audio recordings, and research databases, will remain fully accessible at https://library.wcupa.edu/music. 

This HVAC upgrade is part of WCU’s ongoing commitment to providing a safe, comfortable, and energy-efficient environment for all students and workers. While we understand this may cause some inconvenience, these improvements are necessary to ensure long-term health and comfort of our community. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to enhance your library experience.

Key Details:

• Closure Begins: June 2nd
• Estimated Reopening: June 30th

• Request materials: Search and place requests in our online library catalog.
• Returns: Drop-off returns at FHG Library which will remain open during the closure. Please see FHG library hours here.
• Contacts for Questions or Assistance:
  • Library Help: 610-436-2946
  • Email:  presserlibrary@wcupa.edu

Stay connected with us on https://www.instagram.com/wcupressermusiclibrary/ for updates and reopening announcements.

On March 25th, 2025, West Chester University’s Special Collections hosted Driven to Design: The Life of William Chester Ruth, honoring the life and legacy of the Chester County African American inventor and businessman. The program’s more than 60 attendees learned how Ruth’s groundbreaking designs helped advance agriculture and other industries during the first half of the twentieth century. 

The event commenced with welcoming remarks by Special Collection Librarian, Ron McColl, followed by a series of insightful presentations. Dr. tonya thames-taylor, associate professor of history at WCU, delivered a thought-provoking lecture on "Slavery, Freedom, and Labor in Chester County," setting the historical context for Ruth’s achievements. Bruce Bomberger, the former curator of Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, shared how he rediscovered Ruth’s legacy, provided a detailed account of his research into Ruth’s life, highlighting his journey from a self-taught blacksmith to a successful inventor of national renown with multiple patents to his name. Bomberger emphasized how Ruth’s most notable inventions, including the automatic hay baler and self-lifting farm elevator, revolutionized local agriculture. 

The program culminated with a discussion featuring Ruth’s great-great-granddaughter, Cierra Johnson, a West Chester University graduate, as well as Gwendolyn Ruth Dickinson, Ruth’s granddaughter. They shared personal anecdotes and reflections on Ruth. Johnson explained that stories about her great-great-grandfather continue to inspire her and her family’s endeavors. 

Following the event, attendees viewed an exhibition showcasing items from the William Chester Ruth papers, which University Libraries Special Collections acquired last year. Highlights of the collection include photographs, marketing materials, business correspondence, patents applications, and blueprints. To learn more about William Chester Ruth, or to schedule an appointment to view his papers, contact Ron McColl at rmccoll@wcupa.edu or visit wcruthlegacy.org. 

Completion of IMLS Grant Project on Data Quality Literacy

In February 2025, Grace Liu, Associate Professor and Business Librarian at F.H.G. Library, and her team completed the 2.5-year Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant project on data quality literacy. This project was a collaboration between West Chester University, Stanford University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The project received $149,992 IMLS funding for a National Forum proposal “Building Capacity of Academic Librarians in Understanding Quantitative Data, Data Quality Problems, and Evaluating Data Quality.” The project aimed to raise academic librarians’ awareness of data quality issues, fill their knowledge gaps, and build academic librarians’ capacity and confidence in teaching data evaluation, critical thinking about data, and data literacy.

During the first year, with the help of Standard University’s Event Operations Team, the project team organized seven online national forum webinar sessions. These sessions covered topics, including

1. Evaluating Data Quality: Challenges and Competencies;
2. Quality Assurance in Data Creation;
3. Understanding Commercial Data Quality Issues;
4. Evaluating Governmental Data (U.S. and International);
5. Data Quality: Reproducibility and Preservation;
6. Data Quality: Evolving Employer Expectations; and
7. Librarians' Role in Cultivating Data-Literate Citizens.

These sessions featured a diverse panel of experts, including data librarians from Princeton, Stanford, Yale, and the University of California, Berkeley; the Chief Scientist of the U.S. Census Bureau; the former Chief Statistician of the United States; and data experts from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Catholic Charities USA, Federal Reserve Banks of Cleveland and Kansas City, Cornell University’s Labor Dynamics Institute, Meta Platforms, Inc., Microsoft Research, the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, Ithaka S+R, and the American Statistical Association.

The sessions drew 3,348 unique registrants and 1,931 attendees from six continents and 55 countries, representing over 1,000 institutions, including academic institutions, public libraries, NGOs, central banks, government agencies, corporations, state and national libraries, healthcare systems, and school libraries.

During the second year, the project team edited the national forum transcripts into an open-access eBook, Data Quality Literacy Guidebook, which includes seven chapters, 20 subchapters, case studies, inspiring quotes, charts and graphs, resources, Q&A, and appendices. In addition, the project developed 13 knowledge briefs outlining synthesized data evaluation strategies, including

1. Data Reference Interview
2. Evaluating Data Documentation
3. Evaluating Dataset for Research Needs
4. Using and Evaluating U.S. Federal Statistics
5. Understanding Administrative Data
6. Evaluating Administrative Data Quality
7. Understanding Commercial Data
8. Evaluating Commercial Data Quality
9. Commercial Data Quality: Conversation with the Vendors
10. Commercial Data Quality: Conversation with Researchers
11. Evaluating International Government Data Quality
12. Understanding Survey Data and Public Poll
13. Evaluating Survey Data Quality

The knowledge briefs serve as a framework for academic librarians to organize literacy instruction sessions on data quality or engage in deeper conversations with faculty or researchers on data quality literacy topics. For example, in the one-shot library instruction, there are potential opportunities for librarians to highlight specific data quality issues such as missing values, data errors, or biases that the students need to be aware of when using data or further developing data-related critical thinking skills.

 

The team prepared a comprehensive promotion plan distributing the project and its deliverables through 27 channels. They were invited to share their projects at several key events such as the 2023 Beyond the Numbers Conference organized by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the 2024 International Association for Social Science Information Service and Technology (IASSIST) Webinar, 2025 The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Business Librarians Affinity Group Webinar, the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Digital Scholarship Webinar, and the Hawaii University graduate student seminar. Since its official release in November 2024, the project website attracted over 4,000 users and 7,800 views.

In the final phase of the project, West Chester University students Niko Galioto, a graphic design major, and Zoe Martin, a marketing major, joined the team to assist with the project website, knowledge brief design, and promotion. Their contributions significantly enhanced the project's visual quality and project outcomes while also building their portfolios for graduation.

The national forum webinar series, eBook, and knowledge briefs laid the foundation for the knowledge of data quality literacy. They empowered academic librarians to teach critical thinking about data and increased their confidence in discussing data quality issues with database vendors and researchers.

Learn more by visiting the project website: https://www.dataqualityliteracy.org. 

Driven to Design: The Life of African American Inventor and Businessman William Chester Ruth

From the 1920s until his death in 1971, William Chester Ruth, a African American inventor, entrepreneur, and minister from Chester County, built and sold his patented farm equipment and other machinery throughout the United States. In 2024, the William Chester Ruth Legacy Project, which honors the achievements of this ingenious and courageous businessman, donated his papers to WCU’s Special Collections. On March 25th, we will share items from this fascinating collection, hear Ruth’s inspiring life story, and learn from Ruth’s own family members how they continue his legacy today.

Read more about this event on WCU News.

Join us for this special celebration of a true Chester County pioneer!

📅 Date: Tuesday, March 25th
🕓 Time: 2-3:30 PM
📍 Location: University Libraries Special Collections | 6th Floor of FHG Library
🤩 What: A Deep Dive into the Life and Memory of William C. Ruth
🥨Food & Drink: Light refreshments 
🎟️ RamConnect: https://cglink.me/2f3/r2265367

Help University Libraries support our Golden Rams on the WCU Day of Giving Friday, March 7, 2025!  West Chester University Libraries is at the heart of student success, providing essential resources, innovative study spaces, and programs that empower our community. Become a Friend of the Libraries and support our mission to serve students, faculty, staff and the community.  This Day of Giving, your gift helps us to: 

•  Provide students with skills for academic and career success and life-long learning 

• Develop dynamic spaces that inspire creativity, learning, and engagement 

• Increase access to books, journals, and digital resources 

 Every gift—big or small—fuels student success. Join us in making a difference today! 💛🐏  

To give the gift of supporting our Golden Rams in succeeding at WCU, visit our Day of Giving page.

This year, there is a matching gift challenge: $1 per $1 donated up to $1,000! A donation of $50 or more will enroll you in the Friends of the Libraries program. 

We're Hiring! | Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Digital Initiatives Librarian

Position Summary

 

Join a vibrant equity-minded campus community of educators whose excellence is reflected in its diversity and student success. West Chester University (WCU) Libraries invites applicants for the position of Digital Initiatives Librarian. This is a Full-Time, 9-month, Tenure Track, Assistant Professor position. The position begins in August 2025.

West Chester University, a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, is a public, comprehensive institution committed to offering high-quality undergraduate education, selected post-baccalaureate and graduate programs, and a variety of educational and cultural resources for its students, alumni, and citizens of southeastern Pennsylvania. The University offers more than 100 graduate and undergraduate programs in the sciences and mathematics, business and public management, arts and humanities, health sciences, education and social work, music, and interdisciplinary studies. We are a community of educators dedicated to developing graduates who succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.

The mission of the University Libraries (UL) is to empower intellectual exploration through building connections, collections, and community. As a vital service point for the University’s academic programs, the University Libraries contribute to WCU’s core mission of student success. The faculty members serve as both instructors of information literacy and stewards of library resources. Learn more about West Chester University’s Libraries.

The ideal candidate is a visionary leader who will develop innovative strategies to advance the University Libraries’ digital teaching and support digital scholarship across campus, while also showcasing our unique digital collections. The faculty position will provide guidance and inspiration for a team dedicated to enhancing the University Libraries’ reputation as a campus leader in digital learning. The Digital Initiatives Librarian will be expected to develop responsive collections, deliver inclusive instruction, provide research support, and make scholarly contributions to the profession. The faculty member will collaborate with other University Libraries faculty and staff to ensure student success. May work some evening and weekend hours.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversee the conception, development, and implementation of digital projects
• Support in the acquisition of born-digital content, web-archiving, and other digital collecting initiatives
• Develop the vision for digital content hosting and sharing across a variety of platforms, including policies, workflows, procedures, and the selection and maintenance of various CMS
• Develop the vision for digital asset management and preservation, including policies, workflows, procedures, and selection and maintenance of the libraries’ dedicated server spaces and DAMS
• Participate, establish, and/or lead various teams to advance the University Libraries’ digital initiatives
• Partner, collaborate, and share content with consortia and external digital platforms to increase exposure of collections
• Promote and market the UL’s digital collections and scholarship services on campus and beyond
• Provide course instruction in digital literacy, digital humanities tools, and best practices in digital scholarship; and deliver general information literacy course instruction as needed
• Select the digital scholarship tools the UL will host, promote, teach, and support for scholarly purposes
• Instruct faculty and other members of the campus community on the use of various digital tools and practices, and collaborate with librarians and classroom faculty to incorporate digital collections into courses
• Provide in-person and virtual research consultations for students and faculty during designated shifts at the research help desk
• Participate in library and university governance (shared governance) 
• Engage in scholarship that includes research, scholarly, and/or creative activities to meet requirements for tenure and promotion
• Perform other duties as assigned

 

Minimum Qualifications

 

• Master’s degree in Library Science or closely related degree from an accredited American Library Association program
• At least 2 years professional experience working with digital collections and scholarship in an academic library or similar research environment
• At least 2 years teaching experience in an academic library or similar research environment
• Knowledge of library and archives metadata standards, systems interoperability, born-digital stewardship, and user experience design
• Knowledge of copyright and intellectual property rules and regulations in a digital environment
• Experience managing DAMs and CMS applications and/or software such as CONTENTdm, bepress, Islandora, Omeka, etc
• Demonstrated experience fostering an inclusive workplace
• Ability to effectively communicate in writing and verbally, and present dynamically to a variety of constituents

 

Preferred Qualifications

 

• Second advanced degree or additional graduate coursework; and/or
• Experience developing and implementing strategies and workflows in a collaborative environment while managing competing priorities; and/or
• Familiarity with a variety of instructional and library software/technology/applications such as learning management systems, LibGuides, SpringShare applications, Primo, Alma, etc.; and/or
• Ability to work effectively independently and collaboratively in a collegial academic setting; and/or 
• Experience providing reference and research services in person and/or virtually to students and faculty; and/or

• Record of professional service, scholarship, publication, and/or presentations at a national level

   

Special Instructions

West Chester University of Pennsylvania offers highly competitive salaries and excellent benefits.

Apply online at https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/wcupa. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
 
Review of application will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Applicants must successfully complete the application and interview process to be considered as a finalist.

Required Documents for Consideration
To be considered as an applicant for this position, please submit the following:

• Cover letter 
• Curriculum vita
• List of three references with contact information (Include position title, phone number, and email address)
• Diversity statement (See below)

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
West Chester University has joined EAB’s Moon Shot initiative for Equity in Higher education. This initiative is designed to support faculty, students, and staff who are typically excluded and therefore underrepresented. As part of your application for a tenure-track faculty position, we request a Diversity Statement. This request highlights our department's commitment to promote diversity and inclusiveness and to cultivate a campus environment that welcomes all. This commitment reflects the Diversity Theme of West Chester University's Strategic Plan and supports initiatives of our Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (WCU Diversity Equity Inclusion). We expect that each applicant's statement will be unique, as informed by their own experiences and goals. Some topics you might address in a 1-2-page statement include the following: (1) How have you supported diversity and inclusion in your interactions with others in classroom, therapy setting, and/or research environments? (2) What have you done to help students from diverse communities (such as underrepresented minorities, non-traditional, LGBTQ, veteran, rural, and/or first generation) succeed, including any programs for these students in which you have participated? (3) Describe your commitment to working toward achieving equity and enhancing diversity at WCU. How might you contribute to our current diversity initiatives, and do you have any other ideas to help promote equity on our campus?

 

• Official transcripts will be required prior to hire.

All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon satisfactory completion of all preemployment criminal background checks.

Developing and sustaining a diverse faculty and staff advances West Chester University’s educational mission and strategic Plan for Excellence. West Chester University is an Affirmative Action – Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

 

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We're Hiring! | Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Social Sciences Library

Position Summary

Join a vibrant equity-minded campus community of educators whose excellence is reflected in its diversity and student success. West Chester University (WCU) Libraries invites applicants for the position of Social Sciences Librarian. This is a Full-Time, 9-month, Tenure-Track, Assistant Professor position. The position begins in August 2025.

West Chester University, a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, is a public, comprehensive institution committed to offering high-quality undergraduate education, selected post-baccalaureate and graduate programs, and a variety of educational and cultural resources for its students, alumni, and citizens of southeastern Pennsylvania. The University offers more than 100 graduate and undergraduate programs in the sciences and mathematics, business and public management, arts and humanities, health sciences, education and social work, music, and interdisciplinary studies. We are a community of educators dedicated to developing graduates who succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.

The mission of the University Libraries is to empower intellectual exploration through building connections, collections, and community. As an active member in the University’s academic programs, the libraries are a major contributor to WCU’s core mission of student success. The faculty members serve as both instructors of information literacy and stewards of library resources. Learn more about West Chester University’s Libraries.

The Social Sciences Librarian will be expected to develop responsive collections, teach inclusive instruction, provide research support, and make scholarly contributions to the profession. This faculty position involves responding to the scholarly and curricular needs of their assigned social science departments and identifying opportunities for engagement and collaboration. The ideal candidate is people-centered and thrives in collaborative environments. The faculty member will collaborate with other university faculty and staff to ensure student success. May work some evening and weekend hours.

Responsibilities include:
 

• Serve as a subject specialist to social sciences departments, including but not limited to Psychology, Political Science, and Social Work. Other areas, within specialization, may be assigned based on needs
• Create effective ongoing channels of communication with departments to become aware of user needs, curricular trends, and identify opportunities for collaboration
• Serve as a participating member of the University Libraries instruction program and teach using dynamic and inclusive pedagogical methods
• Create accessible learning objects such as slides, tutorials, videos, research guides, and worksheets
• Provide in-person and virtual research consultations to students and faculty, as well as in-person drop-in, chat, email, and telephone research assistance and reference services from designated shifts on the Research Help Desk. May work some evening and weekend hours
• Develop, curate, and manage relevant collections that meet the research and curricular needs of students and faculty within assigned areas
• Grow professionally and adapt to change by staying aware of current trends, developments, and best practices within librarianship and assigned social science areas
• Engage in scholarship that includes research, scholarly, and/or creative activities. This is necessary for tenure and promotion
• Serve the Libraries, University, the community, and the greater library profession through participation in various committees, conference attendance, engagements, and similar activities
• Participate in library and university shared governance
• Support faculty and students with values grounded in the University mission, vision, and values including diversity, equity, inclusivity, and belonging
• Perform other duties as assigned

 

 

Minimum Qualifications

 

• Master’s degree in a Library Science program or closely related degree from an accredited American Library Association program
• At least 2 years of working experience in an academic library, research environment, or social sciences field; working independently and collaboratively with others
• Ability to effectively communicate in writing and verbally, and present dynamically to a variety of constituents
• Experience teaching and familiarity with core principles of information literacy
• Demonstrated experience advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

 

 

Preferred Qualifications

 

• Academic degree or coursework in the social sciences; and/or
• Experience as a social science librarian, or work within a related field; and/or
• Demonstrated project management skills, leadership, and initiative; and/or
• Familiarity with a variety of instructional and library software/technology/applications such as learning management systems, SpringShare applications, Primo, Alma, etc.; and/or
• Experience using a wide range of social science information/data resources and databases; and/or
• Familiarity with social science research methods and scholarly publishing trends; and/or
• Ability to work effectively independently and collaboratively in a collegial academic setting; and/or
• Experience developing, curating, and assessing library collections especially related to the social sciences; and/or
• Experience providing reference and research services in-person and virtually to students and faculty; and/or
• Record of professional service, scholarship, publication, and/or presentations at a national level

 

 

Special Instructions

West Chester University of Pennsylvania offers highly competitive salaries and excellent benefits.

Apply online at https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/wcupa. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
 
Review of application will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Applicants must successfully complete the application and interview process to be considered as a finalist.
Required Documents for Consideration
To be considered as an applicant for this position, please submit the following:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vita
• List of three references with contact information (Include position title, phone number, and email address).
• Diversity statement (See below)

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
West Chester University has joined EAB’s Moon Shot initiative for Equity in Higher education. This initiative is designed to support faculty, students, and staff who are typically excluded and therefore underrepresented. As part of your application for a tenure-track faculty position, we request a Diversity Statement. This request highlights our department's commitment to promote diversity and inclusiveness and to cultivate a campus environment that welcomes all. This commitment reflects the Diversity Theme of West Chester University's Strategic Plan and supports initiatives of our Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (WCU Diversity Equity Inclusion). We expect that each applicant's statement will be unique, as informed by their own experiences and goals. Some topics you might address in a 1-2-page statement include the following: (1) How have you supported diversity and inclusion in your interactions with others in classroom, therapy setting, and/or research environments? (2) What have you done to help students from diverse communities (such as underrepresented minorities, non-traditional, LGBTQ, veteran, rural, and/or first generation) succeed, including any programs for these students in which you have participated? (3) Describe your commitment to working toward achieving equity and enhancing diversity at WCU. How might you contribute to our current diversity initiatives, and do you have any other ideas to help promote equity on our campus?

Official transcripts will be required prior to hire.

All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon satisfactory completion of all preemployment criminal background checks.

Developing and sustaining a diverse faculty and staff advances West Chester University’s educational mission and strategic Plan for Excellence. West Chester University is an Affirmative Action – Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

 

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We’re looking to bring together a diverse group of students to discuss and provide input on library services, events, spaces, and resources.

If you are interested in:

 Promoting library resources, events, and services: ​serve as The Libraries’ hype-team!​

 Helping support library events​

 Providing critical feedback​

 Connecting with the broader community

Complete this interest form by Friday November 15th to become a member of the Library Student Advisory Board.